Magnolia set out to solve a plumbing issue. It got The Square Park.
The city’s downtown square, featuring the blossoming trees that give the town its name, has always been an attraction to visitors. The Columbia County Courthouse lawn in the center of the square and the locally owned restaurants and boutiques that surround it have been a lure for shoppers who can stroll from one stop to the next.
The square has also been home to popular events like the Magnolia Blossom Festival, The Square Market, the Fall Festival, Southern Arkansas University’s Blue & Gold Day and Merrytime in Magnolia.
But all that foot traffic revealed a problem. Restrooms were in short supply and visitors were descending on the local merchants asking to use their facilities.
Clearly, public restrooms were not just a preference but a need.
Outdated plumbing, referred to as “ancient,” promised store owners the threat of unexpected repairs and contributed to the problem.
A pair of buildings were the key to the solution.
A dilapidated, long vacant building was purchased by Magnolia Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and another outdated building was donated by the family that was about to close up its local business there. These two buildings on the square occupied an area that was the only good place for new construction, but also the best.
The retail building had sagging bricks, sinking floors, leaky roofs and crumbling mortar. The vacant building had dirt floors, gaping holes in the roof and was literally beyond repair.
The owners were pleased to work with the city and play a key role in accomplishing its plans.
MEDC, the mayor, the city inspector and chamber of commerce director presented a layout of a 400-SF, six-stall restroom and began a public investment campaign that wildly surpassed expectations.
Private donor generosity led to the creation of The Square Park, a downtown oasis that offers more than the restroom facilities originally envisioned.
The plan overflowed the property to include a storage building for chamber events; the outdoor Albemarle Stage; five, 300-SF artificial turf “green spaces”; five benches; video surveillance and a water park feature with a splash pad.
The project comprised a total of 9,900-SF and took 17 months, thousands of hours of labor, 17 sponsors and close to $300,000 to complete.
It has all been worth it.
Parents bring their children during the summers for picnics and to play in the splash pad. The Magnolia Blossom Festival saves money and time by using the stage and park. The local farmers market moved in and activities like weekend yoga and fashion shows have been held at the park.
Bands and a nonprofit benefit bike ride have helped to cement The Square Park as a place that everyone can enjoy.
The city of Magnolia Parks Department maintains the public restrooms which were at the heart of the original project and also manages park cleanliness, while the chamber maintains the calendar of events.
“We appreciate everybody,” said MEDC Director Cammie Hambrice, at The Square Park Groundbreaking in 2018. “We want everybody to come out and enjoy the park once it’s finished.”
That is exactly what happened. The Square Park has more than exceeded expectations and stands as a successful example of community development.
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